Hilltopper Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 The biggest hold up on the practice facility has been the HVAC. The chiller has been on order since early last year. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spin Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 (edited) On 8/3/2022 at 10:47 AM, Let'sGoZips94 said: There's only one (at the moment) - American Athletic Conference. They have a $1B TV deal with ESPN, which is the largest non P5 media deal. The MAC I believe is #2, but that might change soon. In terms of growth, the American Athletic Conference and Mountain West have been the two conferences that get picked over by the P5 conferences. The Mountain West is geographically locked, especially from us, so the American Athletic Conference is the only viable option for growth at the moment. Those bus rides sound like a lot of fun. Hope the AC works... Edited January 5, 2023 by Spin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Let'sGoZips94 Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 3 minutes ago, Spin said: Those bus rides sound like a lot of fun. Hope the AC works... I would imagine charter flights would be utilized more often. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopper Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 8 minutes ago, Spin said: Those bus rides sound like a lot of fun. Hope the AC works... Joining the AAC would boost our budget by $8 million a year. That pays for a lot of charter flights. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy5 Posted January 5, 2023 Report Share Posted January 5, 2023 The American doesn't look as enticing now that Cinci, Houston and UCF are leaving. I'd almost rather the MAC and Sunbelt join up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a-zip Posted January 11, 2023 Report Share Posted January 11, 2023 Seems like we could retrofit the JAR similar to EMU Gervin Center. Turn the track into Suites. https://cloud.threshold360.com/locations/8466438-747904955/thresholds 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Certainly not great, but not bad either. I don't see any loges. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 Roo Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 Reminds me of a nicer BG Stroth center. Both magnificent high school gyms. 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 11, 2023 Report Share Posted April 11, 2023 I'd much rather have the Stroh Center than have something like the Wolstein Center where it looks empty even when you curtain off half the seats. Akron pretty consistently draws 2800-3500 fans on average. Any arena over 5k or so seats would just be a waste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 Roo Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 I appreciate your reasoning, but I disagree. I would rather have a facility that gave you the flexibility for growth than one that, in its very size, makes a statement about how big you intend to build your program. The Stroth Center may be good for BG, but not us. I would love a facility that seated 8,000 with the architectural design for expansion if needed 20 years from now. A good architect could do that w/o creating deadspace in the building. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Zip Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 18 hours ago, 72 Roo said: Reminds me of a nicer BG Stroth center. Both magnificent high school gyms. 😉 But the Stroth Center has a song 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 11 hours ago, 72 Roo said: I would love a facility that seated 8,000 with the architectural design for expansion if needed 20 years from now. A good architect could do that w/o creating deadspace in the building. I'm close to your thinking, @72 Roo. I think 7,500 would be ideal. I definitely see where you're coming from, @kreed5120. I often think about how electric the JAR can get and the old saying comes to my mind, "Don't know what you've got till it's gone." But if we were to build a true D-1 arena (especially if it were downtown and able to attract more casual fans, which the JAR really doesn't) we should go for it & shoot for around a 7,500 capacity (just a shade less than Canal Park seats). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoyalZIP Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 Love it @Sergeant Zip, probably haven't seen that video in a decade but it still seems so familiar. I guess I certainly wouldn't be mad if Akron had the Stroh Center. But I really don't like it. I've been over there a few times now, and it is "nice" but that's about it. The arena and amenities are "nice" but I don't see it as a good place or a fun place to watch a game. It's very sterile. Many BG fans feel the same way. The only time it's a truly rocking environment is with a huge crowd and a huge game. On any given Tuesday against NIU, the JAR can feel intimate and be a great environment to play in. Akron deserves to play in a better arena, but I would at least want them to play in an arena that's a fun place to watch a game. The Stroh is not it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, Blue & Gold said: I'm close to your thinking, @72 Roo. I think 7,500 would be ideal. I definitely see where you're coming from, @kreed5120. I often think about how electric the JAR can get and the old saying comes to my mind, "Don't know what you've got till it's gone." But if we were to build a true D-1 arena (especially if it were downtown and able to attract more casual fans, which the JAR really doesn't) we should go for it & shoot for around a 7,500 capacity (just a shade less than Canal Park seats). I actually feel a downtown arena would attract less fans, not more. It's already hard enough to get students to the games as is. Making them walk 20 minutes in the cold and snow would only further deter them. Not to mention attendance for pretty much all sports, at all levels is on the decline. Sure, we might get a temporary attendance boost when it's brand new, but that luster would soon wear off and we'll be looking at 2500 fans in a 7500 arena. I just don't subscribe to the philosophy of build it and they will come. Also, I think sometimes people overlook how scarcity generates demand, especially with this younger crowd that wants to gloat on social media. I think it would be great seeing students camp out for tickets to a big game or something like that. You see at some other schools that have smaller arenas with limited student seating. Or see people feel the need to have to renew their season tickets because they don't want to have to go back on a wait list. Those kind of things is what makes a program feel like it's big time. Edited April 12, 2023 by kreed5120 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zippy-claws Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 I know I'm an old-timer, but if you want to increase home attendance, stop televising every home game on ESPN+. For just $5 month, you create an easy way NOT to attend for the casual fan. Don't want to go out in the cold? Don't want to take out a loan for the concession stand purchases? Don't want to pay for parking? Don't want to buy a ticket? ESPN+ is your ticket. Don't get me wrong, I love to be able to watch my Zips' sports from my family room, and I know that we'd be hurting Athletics by not having TV contracts, but I've fallen prey to the above reasons NOT to go and watch at home.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpsjugglerdude Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 42 minutes ago, kreed5120 said: Not to mention attendance for pretty much all sports, at all levels is on the decline. Sure, we might get a temporary attendance boost when it's brand new, but that luster would soon wear off and we'll be looking at 2500 fans in a 7500 arena. I just don't subscribe to the philosophy of build it and they will come. I think we already tried that InfoCision Stadium. It didn't work out well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LZIp Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 Just now, zippy-claws said: I know I'm an old-timer, but if you want to increase home attendance, stop televising every home game on ESPN+. For just $5 month, you create an easy way NOT to attend for the casual fan. Don't want to go out in the cold? Don't want to take out a loan for the concession stand purchases? Don't want to pay for parking? Don't want to buy a ticket? ESPN+ is your ticket. Don't get me wrong, I love to be able to watch my Zips' sports from my family room, and I know that we'd be hurting Athletics by not having TV contracts, but I've fallen prey to the above reasons NOT to go and watch at home.... Valid points imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 The Zips have had a consistently competitive team for nearly 2 decades. A season GA ticket for this quality program is $60, That's $60. If high quality play at that price won't get butts in the seats I don't know what will. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewbrooman1 Posted April 12, 2023 Report Share Posted April 12, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, zippy-claws said: I know I'm an old-timer, but if you want to increase home attendance, stop televising every home game on ESPN+. For just $5 month, you create an easy way NOT to attend for the casual fan. Don't want to go out in the cold? Don't want to take out a loan for the concession stand purchases? Don't want to pay for parking? Don't want to buy a ticket? ESPN+ is your ticket. Don't get me wrong, I love to be able to watch my Zips' sports from my family room, and I know that we'd be hurting Athletics by not having TV contracts, but I've fallen prey to the above reasons NOT to go and watch at home.... Just for the record, ESPN+ is $10 a month now and I believe $60 is for a bleacher seat. Still, prices are reasonable. Edited April 12, 2023 by ewbrooman1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 17 hours ago, kreed5120 said: I actually feel a downtown arena would attract less fans, not more. It's already hard enough to get students to the games as is. Making them walk 20 minutes in the cold and snow would only further deter them. Not to mention attendance for pretty much all sports, at all levels is on the decline. Sure, we might get a temporary attendance boost when it's brand new, but that luster would soon wear off and we'll be looking at 2500 fans in a 7500 arena. I just don't subscribe to the philosophy of build it and they will come. Also, I think sometimes people overlook how scarcity generates demand, especially with this younger crowd that wants to gloat on social media. I think it would be great seeing students camp out for tickets to a big game or something like that. You see at some other schools that have smaller arenas with limited student seating. Or see people feel the need to have to renew their season tickets because they don't want to have to go back on a wait list. Those kind of things is what makes a program feel like it's big time. This is a good conversation, @kreed5120. Thank you. While I still think, if we were to build a true D-1 arena, the capacity should be 7,500, and I also think that across from Canal Park would be a perfect location... I also would be satisfied if it were on Exchange Street. I think the block between Allyn & Kling, where Thursday's Lounge & the Starz Market currently sit would be a good spot. If that block's not big enough, then cross over Kling & go from Allyn to Kathryn Place. Exchange is a major road in/thru downtown & would have auxiliary benefit to downtown restaurants/bars (which in turn would have auxiliary benefit to the U, especially after the city completes the Exchange Street Corridor project. I want Akron to be a college town!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Gold Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 @kreed5120 and everyone else. Look at this beautiful arena. Southern Indiana University. It is 4,800 capacity & I would LOVE to have a facility like this. 4,800-seat University of Southern Indiana arena If we had something like this, like you noted, Kreed, you'd better get your season tickets to ensure your seat. Here is a short video on the arena - MUST WATCH 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkwgriswold Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 I'd love to have a new facility. That being said, I don't think it's in the budget for the state or the university and the citizens of Summit County have indicated they won't financially support it through a tax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Blue & Gold said: This is a good conversation, @kreed5120. Thank you. While I still think, if we were to build a true D-1 arena, the capacity should be 7,500, and I also think that across from Canal Park would be a perfect location... I also would be satisfied if it were on Exchange Street. I think the block between Allyn & Kling, where Thursday's Lounge & the Starz Market currently sit would be a good spot. If that block's not big enough, then cross over Kling & go from Allyn to Kathryn Place. Exchange is a major road in/thru downtown & would have auxiliary benefit to downtown restaurants/bars (which in turn would have auxiliary benefit to the U, especially after the city completes the Exchange Street Corridor project. I want Akron to be a college town!). Yes, I feel an arena where the baseball field or track is would have been ideal. Obviously those aren't options now since I believe they decided to redo the track and decided to bring the baseball team back. Building it between Kling and the odd corner would work, but something would need to be done for parking. Edited April 13, 2023 by kreed5120 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Blue & Gold said: @kreed5120 and everyone else. Look at this beautiful arena. Southern Indiana University. It is 4,800 capacity & I would LOVE to have a facility like this. 4,800-seat University of Southern Indiana arena If we had something like this, like you noted, Kreed, you'd better get your season tickets to ensure your seat. Here is a short video on the arena - MUST WATCH Yes, something like this is along the lines of what I was thinking. Something that's nice, but feels intimate. I just don't want a repeat of Infocision, which is nice, but even when we pull a decent crowd (by our standards) the stadium still feels empty. To me that just kills the atmosphere of the live experience. Edited April 13, 2023 by kreed5120 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kreed5120 Posted April 13, 2023 Report Share Posted April 13, 2023 2 hours ago, clarkwgriswold said: I'd love to have a new facility. That being said, I don't think it's in the budget for the state or the university and the citizens of Summit County have indicated they won't financially support it through a tax. Oh, it's not happening anytime soon, nor should it given the University's financial situation. It's still fun to talk about. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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